Film Reaction

Books and Films

I found the movie that we watched today about Ron, the homeless man who was a candidate for the Santa Monica City Council, to be both moving and troubling. What struck me as being the most upsetting throughout the documentary was just how hideously selfish so many of the people who had homes that were interviewed in the film were. For example, when the two young men were asked whether or not they think food donation services should be outlawed, their responses were centered around the notion that people who cannot afford to feed themselves should be left to starve, because “in nature, if you can’t feed yourself, you die.” Another interviewee, a woman on vacation from Kentucky, described the line of homeless individuals in the beach park waiting for a free hot meal as being “disgusting.” I don’t consider myself to be particularly naive, but I honestly was shocked by how insensitive and apathetic these privileged people were about those less fortunate than them. I cannot even begin to fathom viewing another human being as being unworthy of life simply because they have fallen upon hard times or are losing life’s lottery. This film made it clear how easy it is for others to bask in their own good fortunate and ignore the needs and suffering of others.

A quote I found to be interesting from the movie was “we are not just looking out for a handout, but are looking for just a hand.” This was stated by a homeless man responding to the question of how it is that people can assist those on the streets. I fully agree with what he had to say. It’s the idea of helping people help themselves so that longterm solutions can be made. All of the people in the film wanted to get off the streets and were desperately trying to better themselves and their lives, but between the overfilled shelters and the constant mistreatment and harassment from uncaring police offers they were unable to find proper housing. That is what I found most tragic. That even those putting all of their efforts into trying to rectify or improve their situations just couldn’t do so and not because of anything they were doing wrong, but because the city of Santa Monica was failing to uphold their promises to aid the homeless denizens of the area.

Lastly, I found it surprising how unappreciative people were of the homeless people collecting cans to recycle. The movie made it clear that Santa Monica lacks a productive recycling program and so to me, it appeared incredibly helpful and eco friendly of the street people to gather plastic and aluminum refuse and recycle it. This not only provides homeless people with a form of legal income, but it cleans up the streets, and helps Santa Monica become a greener city. It certainly sounds like a good thing to me!

5 thoughts on “Film Reaction”

  1. I completely agree with Sophia’s film reaction, and with the continuing comments. However, when watching this movie and again in reading Sophia’s reaction, I couldn’t help but think back to our first day in class when we watched Invisible People’s “Face and Voice of Homelessness” interviews. All the interviews that I had watched ended with asking the homeless interviewees what their three wishes would be. Almost all of the homeless people I watched in certain interviews gave answers that related back to what Sophia quoted in regards to “we are not just looking out for a handout, but are looking for just a hand.” Some of these people just wished for a job and realized that they couldn’t obtain a steady lifestyle without working hard to achieve one. Homeless people aren’t lazy and want our pity, but simply for the world around them to provide the opportunities needed to prove themselves – which, sadly, isn’t simple at all. Which is why the world needs more people, such as Ron Taylor, to fight for these opportunities that are being taken away.

    Interested in some Faces and Voices of Homelessness? Check out the Invisible People website: http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/category/face-and-voice-of-homelessness/

  2. I completely agree. I found those situations appalling. What struck me was how some people can turn a blind eye to the homeless while others do everything they can to help them. I went to the Blessing Center yesterday and truly saw how someone can make a difference, just like Ron Taylor. This movie gave me new insight into the lives of the homeless and showed me how one person has the voice and the power to make a difference.

  3. I thought the same thing when I watched the film. It is heartbreaking to see that people can be so cold and insensitive. I wonder how they would have felt if they were able to be in Taylor’s shoes. On the note of recycling, I never thought about the fact that a homeless persons contribution to cans and bottles scattered around town could not only benefit themselves but the city as a whole.

  4. In response to, “we are not just looking for a handout, but are looking for just a hand.” Homeless people want to be treated with dignity and respect. I found a nearly identical quote in, Voices from the Street by Jessica Morrell. One homeless person comments, “no one is really asking for any handouts. We are just asking to feel like we are human” (191).
    People can make a difference on an individual level. Leo Buscaglia shares, “too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind work, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around” (35). I hope that each student will have the opportunity to make a positive contribution during their outside internship.

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